Irish hauliers operating on the Continent need to review their toll budgets as changes introduced during 2026 feed into another round of charges in 2027.
The Netherlands has replaced its Eurovignette with distance-based charging, Flanders has introduced a CO₂ surcharge, and Germany has tightened vehicle classification thresholds. The financial impact depends on the route, vehicle weight and emissions category, making accurate costing increasingly important.
The Netherlands switches to charging by kilometre
The Dutch truck toll started on 1 July 2026, covering Dutch and foreign N2 and N3 trucks on most motorways and selected provincial and local roads. The Eurovignette no longer covers journeys in the Netherlands. Operators need a suitable on-board unit and an agreement with an authorised toll provider.
A temporary 22.3% discount applies from 1 September until 31 December 2026. For a Euro VI truck in CO₂ class 1 with a technical maximum combination mass above 32 tonnes, the discounted rate is 15.6 cent per kilometre.
The Dutch authority has published a prospective 2027 rate of 20.6 cent per kilometre for that category, although its rate page still labels the figures as awaiting formal confirmation.
On those published figures, 1,000 chargeable kilometres would cost €206 against €156 during the current discount period — an additional €50. Operators budgeting for January should therefore account for the discount ending as well as annual indexation.
Belgium: CO₂ charging and further January changes
Flanders introduced a CO₂ emissions surcharge on 1 July 2026, alongside the existing weight and Euro emissions parameters. Brussels and Wallonia have not introduced that CO₂ surcharge.
Operators must register their vehicle’s CO₂ class through their toll provider. A Euro VI rating does not automatically secure a favourable CO₂ category: the two classifications measure different aspects of emissions.
Viapass has now announced further changes for 1 January 2027. Flanders and Wallonia will index their rates, while Brussels plans no general indexation.
Zero-emission trucks will also face a smaller infrastructure-charge discount in Flanders and Brussels. The reduction falls from 80% in 2026 to 60% in 2027, while the external-cost component remains zero. Electric truck operators should include that change in their operating-cost calculations.
Germany: check the vehicle’s CO₂ class
Germany changed CO₂ classification thresholds for trucks above 16 tonnes on 1 July 2026.
Toll Collect warns that tighter thresholds can move affected vehicles into a less favourable category, increasing toll costs. Operators should check their vehicle records and any classification notices rather than assume an earlier discount still applies.
Germany’s toll exemption for qualifying zero-emission trucks runs until 30 June 2031, providing a longer period of certainty for operators assessing electric or hydrogen vehicles on German routes.
Denmark’s planned expansion
Denmark’s kilometre-based, CO₂-differentiated toll currently covers freight trucks of 12 tonnes and above.
The Danish government intends to extend it to trucks above 3.5 tonnes from 1 January 2027. The official toll website continues to describe this as an intention, so operators using lighter trucks should monitor confirmation of the final arrangements.
For Irish hauliers, the immediate task is to recalculate toll costs for each regular continental route before agreeing 2027 rates. Check vehicle classifications, confirm that on-board units cover every country travelled, and ensure contracts allow toll increases to be recovered.
Device compatibility deserves particular attention: Viapass confirms that a Satellic unit works only in Belgium, while the Dutch NEDLINQ unit is not accredited there. Crossing the border requires the correct toll coverage, even when a device appears to be functioning normally.
